Los
Angeles County
Biographies
ROBERT H. F. VARIEL, JR.
A worthy son of an honored sire,
Robert H. F. Variel successfully followed in his footsteps and was for many
years an outstanding figure in legal circles of Los Angeles, due to his
connection as secretary of the bar association.
He was born in Quincy, Plumas County, California, May 28, 1882, a son of
the late R. H. F. Variel, Sr., whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work, and
Caroline L. (Vogel) Variel, who is also deceased. As a lad of six years he came with the family
to Los Angeles and attended the local schools until his graduation from high
school in 1901. His higher education was
acquired in the University of California, from which he was graduated as a
member of the class of 1906, and in August, 1908, was admitted to the
California bar. He entered upon his
career as a lawyer in Los Angeles at that time, practicing here for twenty-one
years, or until his death on the 28th of February, 1929, at the
comparatively young age of forty-seven.
To the preparation of his cases he devoted much study and care, never
entering the court room without a thorough understanding of the legal
principles applicable thereto, and won many verdicts favorable to the interests
of his clients.
Mr. Variel married Miss Greta
Augustine, of San Rafael, one of California’s native daughters, and their only
child, R. H. F. Variel, III, is now eighteen years of age. Mr. Variel was a Unitarian in religious
belief and gave his political support to the Republican Party. He was a Mason and was also identified with
the Los Angeles Tennis Club, the Native Sons of the Golden West, the Winged
Helmet, the Golden Bear, an honorary society, Phi Delta Theta, a national
fraternity, the Los Angeles Bar Association, of which he was secretary for
seventeen years, and the State Bar of California. He stood high in his profession and was a man
of fine character and substantial worth, esteemed and respecting by all who
knew him.
Mr. Variel’s
younger brother, Clarence L., was also a native of Plumas County, born March 5,
1884, and was but four years old at the time his parents removed to Los
Angeles. Here he pursued his education
until his graduation from high school in the winter of 1903 and after attending
Pomona College at Claremont, California, for a year matriculated in the
University of California at Berkeley, where he received the Bachelor of Science
degree in 1908. In August, 1910, he was
admitted to the bar and devoted his attention to his practice until 1919, when
he became connected with the title department of the Title Insurance &
Trust Company of Los Angeles. He was
associated with the corporation for eleven and a half years and has since
engaged in private practice, with office at 433 South Spring Street. He is an able advocate and a safe counselor
who displays keen discernment in the solution of intricate problems of the law.
Mr. Variel was married to Miss Reba
Smith, who was born in Missouri but was reared and educated in Los Angeles, and
they are the parents of two children, Richard Pendleton, born January 15, 1916,
and Mary Elizabeth, born January 31, 1922.
Mr. Variel enjoys home life and is devoted to the welfare of his
family. Through healthful outdoor
exercise he maintains his mental and physical vigor and is a devotee of
golf. His political support is given to
the Republican Party and in public affairs his influence is always on the side
of progress, reform and improvement. He
belongs to Ramona Parlor of the Native Sons of the Golden West, to the Phi
Delta Theta fraternity, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the State
Bar of California. His breadth of mind
and capacity for legal service are attested by his professional colleagues and
his record reflects credit upon an honored family name.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. III, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 217-219, Clarke Publ.,
Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPIES